National Council of Georgia
Encyclopedia
The National Council of Georgia was the first delegated legislative body formed by Georgia
's major political parties and social organizations on November 19, 1917, during the Russian Revolution
. The Council presided over the declaration of independence
of the Democratic Republic of Georgia
on May 26, 1918, and was renamed into the Parliament of Georgia (საქართველოს პარლამენტი, sakartvelos parlament'i) on October 8, 1918. It was succeeded by the Constituent Assembly of Georgia
, a legislative body elected through the nationwide general elections
on February 14, 1919.
) from November 19 to 23, 1917, and attended by 329 delegates from Georgia’s all major political parties and social organizations, ranging from trade unions to noble assemblies and the church. This was the reaction to the Bolshevik coup
in Russia
of which Georgia was formally still a part
. The Council was dominated by the Georgian Social Democratic (Menshevik) Party
and the Menshevik Akaki Chkhenkeli
was elected its chairman.
and Azerbaijanis
and remained overshadowed by the Tiflis Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies – dominated by the fragile bloc of the Mensheviks and SRs
– until the formation of the Transcaucasian Commissariat
in November 1917.
On May 26, 1918, the NCG declared the independence of Georgia in the form of a democratic republic and assumed the role of the republic's legislature to which the provisional government of Georgia – chaired by Noe Ramishvili
and then by Noe Zhordania
– was accountable. The expanded NCG was converted into the Parliament of Georgia on October 8, 1918, and Karlo Chkheidze became its new chairman. Under its guidance, the general elections for the Constituent Assembly were prepared and organized in February 1919.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
's major political parties and social organizations on November 19, 1917, during the Russian Revolution
Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
. The Council presided over the declaration of independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
of the Democratic Republic of Georgia
Democratic Republic of Georgia
The Democratic Republic of Georgia , 1918–1921, was the first modern establishment of a Republic of Georgia.The DRG was created after the collapse of the Russian Empire that began with the Russian Revolution of 1917...
on May 26, 1918, and was renamed into the Parliament of Georgia (საქართველოს პარლამენტი, sakartvelos parlament'i) on October 8, 1918. It was succeeded by the Constituent Assembly of Georgia
Constituent Assembly of Georgia
The Constituent Assembly of Georgia was a national legislature of the Democratic Republic of Georgia which was elected in February 1919 to ratify the Act of Independence of Georgia and enact the Constitution of 1921...
, a legislative body elected through the nationwide general elections
Georgian legislative election, 1919
Constituent Assembly elections were held in the Democratic Republic of Georgia between 14 and 16 February 1919. The result was a victory for the Social Democratic Labour Party of Georgia, which won 81% of the vote, and 109 of the 130 seats...
on February 14, 1919.
Formation
The National Council of Georgia (NCG) was elected at the National Congress of Georgia held in the State Treasury Theater in Tiflis (now Tbilisi Opera and Ballet TheatreTbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre
Tbilisi State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre is situated on Rustaveli Avenue, in the center of Tbilisi, Georgia. It is the oldest opera house in Georgia...
) from November 19 to 23, 1917, and attended by 329 delegates from Georgia’s all major political parties and social organizations, ranging from trade unions to noble assemblies and the church. This was the reaction to the Bolshevik coup
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
of which Georgia was formally still a part
Georgia within the Russian Empire
Between 1801 and 1918 the country of Georgia was part of the Russian Empire. For centuries, the Muslim Ottoman and Persian empires had fought over various fragmented Georgian kingdoms and principalities but by the 18th century, a third imperial power, Russia, had emerged in the region. Since Russia...
. The Council was dominated by the Georgian Social Democratic (Menshevik) Party
Georgian Social Democratic (Menshevik) Party
200px|thumb|Menshevik Flag of Georgia, created by Iakob NikoladzeThe Social Democratic Labour Party of Georgia was a political party in Georgia. It was founded as the Georgian branch of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party separated itself from the Russian mother-party.The party dominated...
and the Menshevik Akaki Chkhenkeli
Akaki Chkhenkeli
Akaki Chkhenkeli was a Georgian Marxist politician and publicist who acted as one of the leaders of the Menshevik movement in Russia and Georgia....
was elected its chairman.
Political role
The Georgian National Council did not initially achieved the influence that its counterparts enjoyed among the ArmeniansArmenian National Council of Tiflis
Armenian National Council in Tiflis was a representative body of the Armenians residing on the Georgian territory. It was established in October, 1917 at the All-Armenian Congress of Eastern Armenians. The Council had departments for military affairs, health, refugees' affairs and education...
and Azerbaijanis
Azerbaijani National Council
Azerbaijani National Council was the first delegated legislative body of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic from 27 May 1918 to 17 June 1918 and again from 16 November 1918 to 3 December 1918...
and remained overshadowed by the Tiflis Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies – dominated by the fragile bloc of the Mensheviks and SRs
Socialist-Revolutionary Party
thumb|right|200px|Socialist-Revolutionary election poster, 1917. The caption in red reads "партия соц-рев" , short for Party of the Socialist Revolutionaries...
– until the formation of the Transcaucasian Commissariat
Transcaucasian Commissariat
The Transcaucasian Commissariat was established at Tbilisi on November 11, 1917, as the first government of the independent Transcaucasia and following the Bolshevik seizure of power in St...
in November 1917.
On May 26, 1918, the NCG declared the independence of Georgia in the form of a democratic republic and assumed the role of the republic's legislature to which the provisional government of Georgia – chaired by Noe Ramishvili
Noe Ramishvili
Noe Besarionis dze Ramishvili was a Georgian politician and the first Prime Minister of Georgia. He was one of the leaders of the Menshevik wing of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party. He was also known by his party noms de guerre: Pyotr, and Semyonov N...
and then by Noe Zhordania
Noe Zhordania
Noe Zhordania was a Georgian journalist and Menshevik politician. He played an eminent role in the Social Democratic revolutionary movement in Imperial Russia, and later chaired the government of the Democratic Republic of Georgia from July 24, 1918 until March 18, 1921, when the Bolshevik Soviet...
– was accountable. The expanded NCG was converted into the Parliament of Georgia on October 8, 1918, and Karlo Chkheidze became its new chairman. Under its guidance, the general elections for the Constituent Assembly were prepared and organized in February 1919.
External links
- Collection of documents adopted by the NCG. Regionalism Research Center